5+ Stars; My favorite restaurant in the realm of Chef Robbie Felice…read more Outstanding! Excellent service; Very cool urban ( Brooklyn-like) vibe & atmosphere. Kitchen view; Nice sized bar with all the good stuff; Excellent food and drinks! Big public parking lot next door. But keep in mind it doesn't come cheap. What looks (and is) very casual is still in Westwood ( an always evolving Foodie town). A true artisanal menu. I suggest you look at the menu and Google some terms because you're going to see some ingredients & foods that are not common place. Multiple types of Mozzarella ( and other cheeses) Home made pastas that you don't always see anywhere (no penne or spaghetti here!) Our group of four is infamous for ordering A LOT off the menu and sharing; No two like items here. Apps Choose a basket of one of the bread choices; Make sure you try some cheeses ( REAL Italian burrata and REAL Italian buffalo mozzarella from Italy here!) A MUST--Italian Stracciatella ( stringy & soft cheese like Mozzarella with house made Hummus in a Roasted Garlic Pinsa Romana that came with pita. Even the hot honey mozzarella sticks made a common item great. Entrees ( all good sized servings) and after all the yummy cheeses & Apps you can expect to have a take-home container. --I loved the Chicken & Sausage Cutlet Milanese Scarpariello with Rosemary; topped with cooked onions & peppers (not a old salad as one would expect with a Milanese. However they did have the traditional chicken Milanese topped with a Cesar salad that looked awesome. --the Trottole (pasta) with Short Rib Ragu | Mozzarella Whey | Belper Knolle ( a shaved, seasoned cheese) was like nothing Ive ever had and everyone loved it. --the Fussilli pasta with Basil Pesto | Whipped Ricotta | Pine Nut was also fantastic! --Spicy Rig(atoni pasta) with Stracciatella (cheese) | Sicilian Oregano | Basil; another somewhat common dish but here stands out among some of the best. Desserts-- Although the Samoa Cookie (like in those great girl Scout cookies) Cheesecake sounded amazing but the 4 of us split 2 orders of the --Butter Cake with Vanilla Gelato | Berries | Zabaglione sauce; and it was perfection. Light as a feather buttery yellow cake with all of that was the prefect way to end this meal. A true MUST if you like great food and like to try different versions of things. I cannot wait to go back. His best place yet

Vibes? Good. Drinks? Ok…read more Food? I mean...I guess? It's different which IS great. Everything is expensive so I get it but it just didn't blow my bra onto the bathroom ceiling. 260 a couple and one wasn't drinking is reasonable If anything was wow...the best bite of the night was the 10.00 fresh table side bite of mozzarella...it's the one thing we've circled back to talking about over the evening. 26 of those bites would have been way cooler and delicious...which is a good idea for next time. Clams, tasty breadcrumbs. Couldn't find a clam...with both hands, it tasted good if not a little dry just didn't really get "clam" Mozzarella sticks....tasty breadcrumbs and hot honey. But no pull. Focaccia? Over well?? Dark on All sides and only ordered bc our entree was "saucy"...plot twist...it was not. Inventive with the sausage chicken cutlet but scarpiello is supposed to be spicy, sharp...this was roasted peppers on a sausage chicken cutlet with not a drop of sauce. (We shared this, decent serving but for the price you couldn't even garnish the plate?) Chicken scarpimellow maybe ? Cocktails? Tiny and just ok, nothing to write home about and a lot of "just bc you can doesn't mean you should" I want a cocktail with alcohol not molecular gastronomy in a shot glass. The espresso martini was very good, I will give them a 9 on that. The staff was the star, friendly attentive but I can't say knowledgeable because the focaccias sole purpose was for sauce that didn't exist and she didn't come back to ask so here we are with focaccia that came out before apps for an entree that didn't need it. The worst element was that at various points the restaurant was filled with an acrid smell of burning plastic or food or something and it was very off putting but it wasn't a delicious scent. Also, for the vibes and the cost the influencer in gym shorts really throws that whole mood yes society is more casual now but gym shorts aren't really appropriate at any restaurant with the same price point. I'd give it another shot in the future maybe just for cocktails and hand fed cheese.

The restaurant has a nice airy feel. Contemporary decor. I like the light fixtures. The food is…read moredelicious and comes out of the kitchen nicely timed. Our server even asked us if it was ok to start the dinners. Staff (including the General Manager) come around regularly to re-fill waters. Outside and bar seating available.

Hello again everyone, back again with another review. This time me and momma dukes went to a…read morerestaurant I have wanted to try for a long time and everything was perfectly pretty damn good. Being that it was on a Thursday barely anybody was inside and that was fine with me. I seen they had a pear drink and it was great and I had 2 of them. By the way pears are my favorite fruit of all time. For appetizer we had to get the calamari and it was delicious. For dinner for me I had pork cheeks and it was so fucking food and buttery tender. It came on top of creamy polenta and they were delicious. For dessert I had I had to the pb&j cannolis. That's the name reason I wanted to try this restaurant. I plan on going back real soon for the same thing but try a dessert for research purposes. Peace out .

This place is a top 10 in every ;…read more First is the ambiance - modern and stulish stylish. Service - our waiter was friendly, professional, offered great food choices and more importantly, we were not rushed between appetizers, dinner and dessert. The food is delicious, everyone at our table loved it. My new favorite place.

There's only good things to say about ORA and it's a total MUST to go back again and again. I wish…read morethey were in my neighborhood. Went to ORA for a dinner with gfs and qas so pleasantly pleased with a wonderful dinner. Ambiance was modern, pretty, classy, warm and cozy all in one. Great for dinner with gfs, date nights, families. They also have a separate bar area with TVs for more casual nights, which we got to enjoy after dinner to watch the Knicks game and a lounge upstairs, which is nice for after dinner cocktails. Food - omgoodness! For apps, we got the scallops and mussels. They were both delicious. Scallops were light and fresh and the mussels were light but deep in flavor. For mains, we got the spicy rigatoni, bucatini (I think), rib eye steak, and crispy potatoes. The pastas were perfectly al dente and flavors were spot on and sooo good. I was also surprised by their rib eye steak, which was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and tender. I honestly didn't expect too much from their steak, but it was GREAT. So happy we ordered it and can't wait to bring my husband so he can try one of their steaks as well. Crispy potatoes, exactly as said, but better! Service was very warm and attentive. Our server always checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed and wanted and gave us some great recs for dinner and cocktails. This is a spot I'd choose every time I'm in the area and definitely need to go very soon for a date night. Thank you, ORA, for an amazing dinner.

Great experience! We started with fried calamari - perfectly seasoned and crispy. Our entrees…read morewere the ribeye and ny strip - again, well seasoned, prime beef and cooked to perfection (medium, rare). Service was fantastic - the manager, Sherry, was very cordial and great to talk with. We were celebrating our anniversary and she seated us near the beautiful fireplace. Couldn't have had a better experience. Thank you.

Amateur hour in Westwood! And it's all going to cost you a pretty penny…read more An indicator that you are in for a rough evening, is when multiple confused people show up at your table announcing themselves as your server. One proceeded to apologize and tell me "how overwhelmed everyone is because it is Valentines Day." I didn't have the heart to tell him it was actually Friday the 13th and the restaurant was not even close to packed. If that stresses him out he is in the wrong line of work. Furthermore, you don't trouble customers with this sort of thing. BUT, I digress... 2 stars for the photo of Elvis Presley in the movie Flaming Star! I saw that movie in the theaters, 1961! Actually, 1 star for Elvis and another for the water service (more about that later.) We ordered the Octopus and Fried Pickles as app's. The Octopus was loaded with garlic, but otherwise under seasoned and flavorless and was a comically small portion - a "sliver." Loaded with fingerling potatoes though! The fried pickles were about as "good" as something you would get from a bad food truck. Both (over) priced like it was prepared by a Michelin chef (which of course, it was not.) Next up - the Porterhouse for two. Ordered Medium rare and arrived Medium Well, to actually Well done (i.e.. solid GREY) on the Filet side. Because our server considered his job done after our entree's arrived, it was a chore to find him and flag him down to send it back. It took a disproportionate amount of time to bring us a new one, like 40 minutes. We got multiple apologies but no visit from management (which is customary in a place that fancies themselves "high end") and no offers to comp anything to make things right. Finally we get our Medium rare steak which honestly, was chewy and tough. Our server disappeared like a ghost after we got our Porterhouse "re-do" which is too bad because we needed a few things...like salt for the flavorless steak fries. Maybe he was busy? After all, it WAS Valentines Day! One plus - there is an almost OCD-like fascination with filling your water glass! Take one sip and an arm will magically appear next to you to top it off! Give that man a raise! First time/last time - awful.

Update: I came back to Bosfa after our first visit in December, when one entrée issue kept the…read morenight from being perfect. This Saturday visit was excellent. Reservation was ready, we picked our table, and despite brutal cold weather (and door drafts every time someone walked in), service and pacing were great. They even made the seafood salad from my last visit by special request -- octopus, calamari, shrimp, arugula, lightly seasoned, great portion. Entrées were both strong: * Linguini vongole -- clean white broth, great pasta, solid portion * Pork chop with sweet/hot peppers, broccoli rabe, potatoes -- excellent chop, grilled then finished with tomato sauce and peppers (I usually prefer oil-sautéed peppers, but this still worked well) Interesting crowd difference: last time was a Friday bar crowd, this Saturday was a packed dining room and quieter bar. Excellent return visit. We'll definitely be back.

this place is JUST ok. I didn't even know it was there until I saw it on yelp and decided to check…read moreit out. ambiance is...different. it's recently renovated and everything is in shades of black and white. it lacks the cozy comfy atmosphere of an Italian restaurant. the environment feels a bit sterile. a few of the tables are plastic folding tables covered in table clothes. chairs are mismatched but cleverly covered to make them all look the same. food was just ok. portions were HUGE. i literally carryed a giant bag of leftovers of out the place. i can eat....and i couldn't believe the size of these dishes. drinks were delicious! staff was super friendly but the food came out a bit slow. the experience was overall average and I'm not sure if I would go back.

Not my vibe! We got here around 8:30 and was able to be seated for a table for two. We got sat, had…read moreto wait a bit for menus. Waitress finally came over and we ordered the arancini, which was on special. Waitress took the menu to check if that was on there because she seemed confused when I ordered it. The arancini were for sure frozen and refried. Just not good and bland. The bread was the best part tbh but I'm not sure about whatever the dipping sauce was. I'd rather just butter. My bf was disappointed with the cheese raviolis - they were not hearty at all. The chicken parm was okay. I didn't love the red sauce and hate that the penne was drowning in sauce, just not much to break up the flavor of it. There was a guy playing guitar and the overall atmosphere of this place is just not there. Ceiling tiles are dirty, bathroom was dirty and not well maintained. I can see the Restaurant Depot sized box of cannoli shells. If you're craving Italian, go anywhere else.

Food was great and so was the service. With it being a BYOB, the cost was very reasonable as well…read more Go check it out!

This is Roman pizza, not flatbread! There are many different varities of pizza other than boring NJ…read morepizza with Sysco ingredients. Here, the dough is fermented for days and it is made from Italian wheat, rice and spelt flour (like a proper, authentic Pinsa Romana, Google it!) instead of unhealthy bleached, bromated flour found at 75- to 90-percent of most pizza restaurants in North Jersey. The quality of the toppings is also considerably better, which is why Mercato's pizzas are more expensive. Is the extra effort and expense worth it? I think so. I can taste the difference and I appreciate the crunchy exterior, soft inside textures and not feeling bloated after having a few slices like I do when I have a cheaper generic NJ pizza. I also prefer it over Neapolitan style pizza, unless it's pizza from Alta Irpinia (which also ain't cheap but so. Damn. Good.). If you're looking for run of the mill, cheap family feedbag pizza, go elsewhere. But if you can appreciate the finer things, Mercato is a good choice for a genuine, authentic Italian variety of pizza that's very hard to find around here, even in Manhattan too.

Overpriced Small portions…read more Flatbread not pizza Small menu Would have liked a sandwich offering

Still very much a go to restaurant for me and the family…read more Lunch is an excellent deal, including soup of the day, house salad and an entree. Crusty bread from a local bakery. Prices vary depending on the entree you get. Just beware that the prices for specials are significantly higher than all other lunch entrees. Ask before ordering so you're clear. Dinners are great here as well. My favorite dishes are... Every veal dish, chicken Murphy, seafood entrees, some pastas. My kids love the chicken Parm here. Plenty to choose from. Service is always great and speedy. You'll be in and out in an hour, if that's what you want. Desserts aren't homemade or anything like that - likely Restaurant Depot stuff. Still, the whole experience here, pricing, quality of food and did I mention... It's BYOB! Plus, they have a rewards system and you can earn points towards a free dessert. I've already accumulated like 9 or 10 desserts. And...no credit card fee here! Love that. If you come for dinner on a weekend, arrive early or late. Reservations only for larger groups.

I went to Bellissimo for dinner recently and had a nice time. It started out pretty cold and then…read morebecame stuffy and warm - the configuration of the restaurant is a bit strange, but we managed. Our food was pretty good, and the staff was attentive. They don't take reservations for parties with less than 5 people, but luckily we only waited about 5 minutes. The host and hostess tried to accommodate us, which was appreciated.

Ciao Bella Italian Bistro 690 River Road…read moreNew Milford, NJ 07646 Caesar Salad Hot Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Chicken Parmesan Chicken Ciao Bella Tiramisu Appearance: 1/2 Taste: This locally owned Italian restaurant serves a decent selection of Italian dishes. The dining area is one room adorned with attractive art decor and a glass wall overlooking the main road. The Caesar salad was a light, yet satisfying starter. The romaine lettuce, croutons and house made dressing blended the perfect trio! If you are looking for an appetizer with a touch of sweet and spice, the sausage & broccoli rabe will do the trick. The protein and vegetable blended well together with some diced tomatoes thrown on top. As always, I can never visit any Italian establishment without trying the Chicken Parmesan. For the most part, it did not disappoint. My sole critique is the excess amount of moisture beneath the linguini. I also used any extra mozzarella cheese as a topping for the pasta and table bread. Named after its restaurant, the chicken ciao bella was breaded and pan fried. The lemon butter sauce definitely added flavor to the cutlets and the side vegetables were just as "bella" as the main entree. The coffee flavored dessert was paradise. The taste as so rich and pure in flavor, you definitely didn't need coffee either this final course. I highly recommend this location if you want a decent meal at reasonable price. Thank you, Omar and the culinary artists for your pristine service with a smile. #ciaobella #italianbistro #newmilfordnj #caesarsalad #broccoliarabe #italiansausage #chickenparmesan #chickenciaobella #tiramisu #njeats #localspots #foodstagram #njfoodie

I was craving Italian food and Ciao Bella came up as a highly rated spot in the area. There's a lot…read morein the back and I'm not sure if you're supposed to use the back entrance, but I did and I ended up walking through the kitchen which put a smile on my face. I felt a little like Ray Liotta in "Goodfellas". The service was excellent and our waiter rattled off an extensive list of daily specials and they all sounded wonderful. We settled on burrata and a fried vegetable appetizer. The burrata was good but the fried thing was even better. I wish I could remember what it was because it was so good. I guess that's what I get for writing my reviews 2 months later. It was some kind of vegetable stuffed with cheese, battered and fried. It wasn't too oily and all the flavors and textures went well together. For our entrees we went with linguini in clam sauce and cavatelli, broccoli rabe, & sausage. The linguini was a solid plate of pasta. Linguini, clams, sauce. It tasted exactly how you expect it would and the pasta was cooked well. The cavatelli was much more interesting to me. The different textures and flavors really made it a joy to eat. The pasta was al dente while some of the sausage had some crispy bits to it. And the broccoli rabe kind of made me feeling like I was eating somewhat healthy The ambiance was nice if not a little dated. Not bad though, it was cozy. I'd come back, but not too often. It's pricey.

Best place ever for nice dinner outside or inside! Great Italian dishes , steaks, seafood and more…read more! Mendim the owner is wonderful as are Rob, Neb and Jason the manager. You will love it! Great take out dinners too!

This place is soooooo good!! Another BYOB that slays.. I also love two of the waiters there .. they…read moreare so nice .. they give complimentary apps! Rice balls and a cheese plate :)